Happy, Holy Mama

When I first started homeschooling, I can’t tell you how many times I found myself erasing and rewriting plans in my planner every time something didn’t go the way I thought it would. 

Someone would get sick, or we’d want to linger longer on a subject, or a new documentary would pull us down a rabbit trail—and suddenly all my careful planning for the year felt ruined.

Then I discovered a new, ...

What should we do when headlines and heartbreak feel like too much—especially when you’re trying to homeschool. 

It’s important to name the reality of evil without letting it hijack your home and your heart.

In the episode you’ll hear:

• A simple discernment check.

• ...

Today the Church celebrates the birth of Our Lady and it has me reflecting on my own beginnings as a Catholic life coach and podcaster.

When I first sat down to record, I was nervous, uncertain, and honestly a little scared. 

Who would want to listen to me?!

But like Mary, I knew God was inviting me to say “yes,” even when I didn’t understand what He was going to do with it.

Do you ever end the day feeling guilty for yelling, wishing you could take back the words you said in frustration? 

You’re not alone. 

That was me, and it’s so many Catholic moms who struggle with overreacting, losing patience, and feeling disconnected from the very people we love most.

Now, as a life coach I’m on a mission to help as many Catholic homeschooling moms as possible c...

When my third oldest son was little he was a screamer. 

Like multiple times a day for at least 20 minutes at a time and we spent years trying to figure him out. 

We tried parenting trick after parenting trick, with very little success.

Ultimately, you know what worked?

Patience, love, compassion, and a willingness to be in the hard part with him, instead of wishing it...

When I first became a mom, I longed to have Mama Mary by my side in every moment of my motherhood. I didn’t yet know about consecrations, so in my desperation, I went for something bold—a miraculous medal tattoo on my ankle. (Spoiler: consecrations are easier and far less painful!)

In this episode, I share my journey of learning what true meekness looks like—not weakness, but the gentle strength Mary embod...

If you were a teacher in a brick-and-mortar school or professor in college you would have designated time when you would prep your day, prepare the rest of your week, do research, grade papers, and receive students' questions either via email or in person. 

However, as homeschoolers we have the added obstacles of toddlers and babies underfoot, laundry that needs to be changed over, meals that need to be ma...

Homeschool mamas have the best of intentions this time of year. 

Whether you love hitting the ground running with all the subjects or you prefer easing in gently, there’s no one right way to start your homeschool year. 

But today, I’m making the case for taking it slow on purpose.

Why? Because starting with just a few key subjects (or skills) can help you build momentum, create mu...

You’re staring at the homeschool plans you once felt so excited about… but now they just feel overwhelming. Your house is a mess, the kids are wild, and the doubt starts to creep in:

“Why can’t I keep up?”
“This isn’t good enough.”
“I’m not good enough.”
“Maybe they were right, I can’t do this.”

If your daily thoughts sound more like criticism than compassion, if you’ve ever felt ashamed, defe...

We just wrapped up an incredibly energizing Planning Week inside Happy, Holy Mama, and I couldn’t wait to share some of the most powerful moments with you! 

Whether you’re just starting to plan or want a fresh lens to look at your current homeschool year, this episode offers a simple filter to help you focus, reset, and move forward with greater clarity and hope!

Plus, I share one beautiful mindset shift that can change how you s...

Trying something new shouldn’t feel like failure waiting to happen, but for many Catholic homeschooling moms, even good changes can trigger self-doubt, pressure, and shame that makes you want to quit, sometimes before you even start.

I don't want you to get stuck there, especially at the beginning of Planning Week when 100+ Catholic homeschoolers are learning new things for their homeschool year.

I want to...

We're halfway through summer, and many Catholic homeschool mamas are feeling that tug to start planning for the new school year, or at least start thinking about it. 

Whether you're knee-deep in organizing your curriculum or still trying to enjoy summer break, I want to help you avoid some of the biggest pitfalls I see moms fall into when planning their homeschool schedule.

This week, I’m talk...

Our family just moved across the country. Nine of us packed into one vehicle for 3,000 miles over eight days.

All to follow God’s call to a brand-new place, without a job lined up, without local family, and without all the answers.

It’s still fresh, still unfolding, and honestly, still a little messy.

But I'm brave and sharing my first reflections on our trip and the move with you now, in the thick of unpacking boxe...

Have you ever struggled with feeling selfish when you try to set boundaries with your kids?

Or have you wondered how to respond more peacefully in challenging moments with your kids and wish you had better boundaries already in place?

If so, you are not alone! 

Creating healthy boundaries is one of the most popular skills I teach, because they are crucial for maintaining the peace...

One of the most common struggles Catholic homeschool moms face is trying to pray in the middle of a noisy, messy, and busy life. 

Whether it’s the audible noise of your kids or the visual noise of clutter, it can feel downright impossible to pray, or focus on anything else, when your sensory systems are on overload. 

But here’s the truth: the noise doesn't control you. You are in control of yo...

Do you worry about your kid’s lack of motivation?

Have a rambunctious teenager who has passions, but no goals?

Or worry that they won’t end up where they should, based on their current trajectory? 

You just want to make the right decisions to help them have their best possible future.

It would be nice if you could shortcut some of the hardship and learning curves you may have had to face on your journey,...

We have big hopes for the summer, like to organize and declutter the spaces in our home, put away this year’s homeschool supplies and get ready for next year, and maybe relax and enjoy our kids more!

Unfortunately, if that’s not happening yet, then you might already be feeling the summer overwhelm start to creep in.

And without the structure of school, maybe you’ve been finding yourself yellin...

Ever wonder why asking for what you want feels so risky and vulnerable? 

It’s not the request itself that’s hard, it’s what you’re telling yourself the other person is going to think about you because of that request, that keeps you from even trying.

In today’s podcast episode, I’m bringing back an MVP (Most Valuable Podcast) where I’m going to be talking about those sneaky thoughts that feel ...

You’ve heard that communication is essential for a healthy marriage, but it’s also absolutely essential for a healthy family.

In today’s episode, I’m walking you through the six communication rules we use in the Brown family to help reduce misunderstandings, strengthen emotional connection, and stop wasting precious time and energy on hurt feelings. 

These rules have helped us build trust, kee...